mgm grand marshal or any park opening?

[KYCruiseCrazy]

ok, here is a strange one for all. i've been to WDW 3 times and i have always wondered what it took to open any of the parks or get to be the grand marshal. ok i have had the golden opertunity to open MGM on my last trip. ok now let me (and all the other lerkers) know what you did do or not do to open a park. i know you get a free picture so please post yours.

here is my story:
we got to MGM early to get to see the opening day of narnia. DW was up early and do i mean early.we got to MGM around 8 am with a 9 am opening. i was thinking at first there are very little people here. do DD and DN were in one line to get in and DW and i were 2 lanes over. all i heard was where is your parents? "Oh %$#^ what did they do" is what i thought. the CM asked us if we enjoyed MVMCP since we were all wearing the same shirt that day. and that is why he picked us. what a day

here is mine:

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

bump it real good. i hope to see ya real soon

 

[marconat]

HMMMMMM! I would like to know too!!!

 

[dizydreamer]

Oh Yea! We got to do this at the MK back in July of 2001. My girls DD were 6 & almost 3 at the time. We got up early for breakfast at the CP but had made it to the park 45min befor it opened. We were able to get magic wands a certificate to say that they had been the "GATE KEEPER" of the day and it was topped off with the first ride on the firetruck rining the bell down Main Street USA. (No one could get in until they had guessed the password that we had chosen.) They couldn't stop talking or sharing this story with friends when school started up.

 

[Magical JenK]

DH & I were chosen to be Grand Marshals of the afternoon parade at MK last September on our last day at the parks!! It was a magical way to end our trip!! We had breakfast at Crystal Palace at 930 & afterwards we headed towards Frontierland. We were stopped by a CM said he liked my vintage Mickey T-shirt. I thanked him & he asked what our plans were for the day, etc. We explained that it was our last day at the parks & we were going to hit all the places we hadn't been to yet. He then told us that he was looking for a fun couple to be grand marshals in the afternoon parade & was wondering if we were interested! HEX YEAH!

TIP...don't be shy if a CM starts talking to you! He said that he usually starts talking to guests w/small talk & feels out how they react (i.e. are they friendly? fun? excited to talk to him about Disney?, etc). If they are somewhat outgoing & willing to talk to him he asks them to be Grand Marshals!

I still can't believe we were picked! I know we were very, very lucky & had a lot of pixie dust with us that morning! It must have been in the OJ at Crystal Palace!!

We were the front car of the parade (one I guess Walt actually rode around in??) & there was another couple & a family of three in the car that was behind the band. One of the women was telling me that she was waiting to be chosen for 20+ years...she didn't appreciate me saying that I had no idea they randomly chose people to be in the parade, she told me I didn't know how lucky I was! YIKES!!

Jen

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

day 2. i hope we can get some more people and the free photos to go with it. disney magic is the greatest this around.

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

wow i guess there are no DISers out there that opened a park or been the grand marshal

 

[BlindTyldak]

Actually one thing I'd like to know is if anyone with mobility issues has ever been chosen? We'd love to be picked and we're always very early to the parks, but my husband uses an ECV. Does that mean we're automatically disqualified no matter what since he can't stay standing and visible?

 

[Disneyhappy]

Below is a copy of my experience from another post awhile back.

We were picked to be the GMs a few years ago. What a pleasant surprise for us! We arrived at the MK early. It was our 2nd day at the MK for that trip so we weren't rushing to get to the rope drop and attractions. We were walking leisurely down Main Street with matching Mickey t-shirts, etc. (yes, we probably looked a little geeky!) By this time on the trip, we were into pin trading big time! I stopped with almost every CM I saw to look at their pins and chat. As we were walking down the right side of Main Street, I stopped with a CM to look at his pins. He was not dressed in any theme costume like most CMs. He had on a men's short sleeve polo shirt. I would not have realized he was a CM except for his name tag. I checked out his pins and then noticed on his name tag that he was from a town near my family (this is when they put the CM's hometown on the name tags.) We discussed where we were from (not that I need an excuse to strike up a conversation). The rest of my family caught up and joined in. He asked us if we were planning to stay in the MK for the whole day and that was that! In restrospect, I think they look for people who are outgoing because we went through mini-training prior to the start of the parade - waving, smiling,etc. I don't know if this helps, but good luck! It is one of my most treasured memories!

 

[ANTSS2001]

 

[inloveindisney]

Oh, I am so jealous! We wanted so badly to do something like this on our wedding trip. I researched like crazy how to be chosen and couldn't find a lot of information. One day it will happen to me-I hope I don't have to wait 20 years!!!

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

bump still looking to see who has done it

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

anyone else? everyone must be at WDW

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

my last try

 

[kpm76]

Here's my story....I will look for my pics and post those as well....DH and I were honeymooning in WDW and we wore our wedding ears everywhere....we were in MGM and thought about doing the Fantasmic Dinner Package so we went to Guest Relations. As we were asking, the CM asked us if we were going to be in the park at 4pm. We said yes and she asked us if we'd be the Grand Marshalls in the parade. We nearly died...we were so excited!!! She told us that a different CM gets to pick the GM family each day and that day was her turn. We had to meet her at 3:30pm where she escorted us "backstage" to the car we'd be riding in. She took our camera and followed along side the car snaping shots of us. Once we reached the end, we were allowed to stand in a VIP area and watch the parade. The characters all stopped to pose for pics with us....it was really memorable. After the parade finished, we went into a private VIP area where they gave us soda...it was really hot out! We also got to keep the sign that was on the car identifying us as the GMs, we got a frame, a signed picture of the characters and VIP tickets for Fantasmic! It was surreal, but the most awesome part was that we were totally shocked and surprised that we were chosen. Some things in WDW can't be planned and that is part of the magic

 

[Lizzy2]

Does anyone know if you contact Disney if they would book you in advance to do one of these things? My BFF is currently battling lung cancer which has turned into bone cancer and we are going in Oct. Do you think if I explained what was happening that they might let her do it? This would be a special surprise for her and to be honest her longterm outlook is very uncertain.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[PFopma]

We've never been chosen for anything in WDW but got to be in the parade in Disneyland 2 years ago. I got the scoop on the DIS Disneyland Board. When I saw the double decker bus and the CMs I knew what they were doing so went up to talk to them. My 12 yr old niece was very excited and surprised. We got to wear tutus and dance with the hippos from Fantasia. At the end of parade route they gave us beverages and special pins for being parade participants. Would love the opportunity to do something similar on our next trip to WDW in Sept!!

Pat

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

We've never been chosen for anything in WDW but got to be in the parade in Disneyland 2 years ago. I got the scoop on the DIS Disneyland Board. When I saw the double decker bus and the CMs I knew what they were doing so went up to talk to them. My 12 yr old niece was very excited and surprised. We got to wear tutus and dance with the hippos from Fantasia. At the end of parade route they gave us beverages and special pins for being parade participants. Would love the opportunity to do something similar on our next trip to WDW in Sept!!

Pat

tutus would be a picture to see lol

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

its sunday!! anyone else?

 

[tyandbash]

Lizzy2~ I would think that is exactly the kind of person they would be looking for!! It never hurts to send an e-mail and ask!!!